Sole with peripheral links which enable the user to design and transform sandals

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a sole which can be made from any natural or synthetic material. According to the invention, bands are sewn between the layers of the sole and provided with links for the passage of the strap(s) used to fasten the sole to the foot. As a result, the user can alter the colour, shape, length, etc. of the straps and, in this way, design the footwear to suit the occasion.

BACKGROUND

So far, similar sandals, espadrilles and shoes have consisted of a platform on which fabric or leather straps are mounted (sewn or stuck) to cover the foot instep and correspond to which, in all kind of shoes, is known as cut or empella. However, this system presents two limitations or inconvenient for user: a) it is impossible to change the color, shape and texture o the straps or the empella; and b) it is difficult to wash them.

According to a research on the state-of-the-art, different systems have been disclosed making possible to exchange the top part of a shoe or of a sandal. I will specifically refer to two documents presenting an exchangeable cut sandal. The first (patent Frederic, No. FR 1034211) consisting of a sole from which some staples protrude from the top part thereof to guide some exchangeable straps passing through an empty space under the sole. The second document (Charles, No. US 2006/0174514) consisting of a sole provided with some straps fixed to the sole which ends end in kind of a buttonhole whereby an open hook passes to which the exchangeable straps of the shoe are also coupled, by means of the corresponding buttonholes. However, the two cases present important inconveniencies: On the one hand, both staples and the hooks come into contact with the foot thus causing hurts; on the other side, both staples and hooks may be come off upon walking.

In order to eliminate these inconveniences, this invention consists of a sole enabling exchange of the sandal or shoe cuts by using a fixed system of straps provided of links at their ends which are sewn or stuck between at least two soles (one coming into contact with the foot and the other coming into contact with the floor) thus allowing that the different top cuts of the shoe pass by its links.

These straps with links do not overtake the top edge of the sole to prevent the links from coming into contact with the foot. The links, in turn, do not have openings but they are closed in such a way that they are fixed and they may not come off from the strap holding them, the sole may be of any material and have a sufficient height to prevent that the links are bigger and the links may be of any shape, size; provided they do not overtake the top edge of the sole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 in a top view of the straps with the links coupled to its edges.

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective of the sole wherein it may be seen how the bottom layer, the top layer and the straps are assembled.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the sole already assembled.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the sole already assembled with different layers.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a fastening system of the top cut with the links.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective views of the sole with links of different configuration or shape.

FIGS. 8, 9, 10 and 11 represent views of the sole with different types of top cuts assembled to the links of the straps.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This invention is an original solution to the previous limitations in the case of sandals, espadrilles and similar shoes. Invention for one of these cases (espadrilles) is detailed hereinbelow, provided that it may be applied to the other types of shoes, except for the specific differences.

So far, soles for espadrilles have consisted of one or several braided vegetal fiber layers. Each one of these layers is fowled by rolling and sticking on itself a vegetal fiber braid until obtaining a platform known as warp (natural sole). In a modern fashion, a thin layer of synthetic material is attached to this warp by means of a vulcanization process to reinforce and protect the part which will come into contact with the floor (synthetic sole). Finally, the cut or empella are sewn with the compound sole resulting from joining the warp to the synthetic layer (if the espadrille covers the instep) or if applicable, some straps holding the foot (if the espadrille is open).

The proposed invention consists of a sole body defining a top section, a bottom section and two sides, each top and bottom section are comprised of two layers (2 a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 d, 2 f) adding some straps between the top and bottom sections of the sole body (3) which transversally cross from side to side, these are made of a resistant and flexible material and they have some links sewn to their ends (4). In the case of synthetic layer soles, this occurs before the vulcanization process; in those made out of natural fiber, before sewing the layers among themselves; in the wood, leather, rubber, plastic, etc. soles consisting of a single layer, the straps with the links will be attached to the sole in the most convenient way.

Length of the straps (3) will barely exceed the sole width. Therefore, the links (4) sewn to it will be attached to its edges without overtaking them upwards (not to disturb the foot) or downwards (to prevent slips) but having some space loose in both directions, namely, the thickness of the top section of the sole body, namely, the top layer or layers together will be higher than the height of the links. In the case of high soles, the straps (3) will be sewn under the layer coming into contact with the foot (2 a and 2 b), in the cases that the type of sole makes it necessary, the model will include a heel on the top part (5), exchangeable or fixed to prevent sprain or instability to the foot (FIG. 8).

Shape, provision and material of the links (4) will depend on the models (metal, plastic, covered with the same fiber than the sole, etc.; rings shape, rectangles, buckles, etc.). Hence, for instance, some wide straps (3) will imply a less number of links (4) around the sole which will be subject by means of snap fastener, buttons, Velcro or any other system (6).

Then, the vulcanization process, sewing, etc. takes place fixing the straps (3) to the sole. Sole is fasten to the foot passing a cord through the links hole (4), a fabric, leather strap, straps, etc. (7). Shape and colors of said straps and the way to cross the instep and pass the links hole will depend on the convenience and invention of user (FIGS. 8-11). User may design his/her espadrilles for each event completely changing the straps (longer or shorter, different colors, etc.) or just the way to provide them, fasten them or finish them. 

1. A sole with peripheral links comprised by: a sole body defining a top section, bottom section and two sides; some straps transversally provided in the middle of the sole body between the top and the bottom section which protrude by the sides of said of sole body, said sole is characterized because it has some links coupled on each side of the straps wherein the width of the top section of the sole body is higher than the height of the links, in such a way that said links do not reach the top part of the sole, thus preventing contact with foot and wherein the straps are fixed between the top and bottom section of the sole body.
 2. A sole with peripheral links according to claim 1 characterized because the top section is comprised at least by a top sole layer and the bottom section is comprised at least by a bottom sole layer.
 3. A sole with peripheral links according to claim 2 is characterized because the straps are sewn among them to at least a top sole layer and to al least a bottom sole layer.
 4. A sole with peripheral links according to claim 2 characterized because the straps are stuck among them to at least a top sole layer and to at least a bottom sole layer.
 5. A sole with peripheral links according to claim 1 characterized because exchangeable straps pass through the links comprising the top cut of a shoe.
 6. A sole with peripheral links according to claim 1 characterized because it has an exchangeable or fixed heel on its top surface 